McDonnell on speed
Gov. Bob McDonnell proposes increasing the Virginia statewide speed limit to 70 MPH.
HAMPTON ROADS TRAFFIC WITH 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT:
HAMPTON ROADS TRAFFIC WITH 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT:
That’s not completely accurate. We would need to spend some of our scarce transportation money changing that sign.
On the other hand, traffic speed will increase in other parts of the state, resulting in a 15% increase in fatalities and a 15% reduction in fuel efficiency. Great idea, Bob!
I remember when Virginia Republicans occasionally demonstrated common sense. Just about a year and a half ago, Sen. John Warner proposed reinstituting a national 55 MPH speed limit, citing studies that the previous limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day (about 2% percent of the country’s highway fuel consumption), avoided 4,000 traffic deaths a year, and saved drivers 30 cents per gallon in fuel costs for every 5 MPH over 55 MPH.
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January 29th, 2010 at 8:19 am
The Virginia Republican plan for governance: “They’re taking away our freedumz.”
Yeah, that should cover everything.
<3 Love the new header image.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I’m sorry, David, but that image you’re using makes me wanna remind folks about next week’s EPA hearing in Arlington on toughening our smog standards!
From virginia.sierraclub.org:
On January 6, 2010, the EPA proposed to strengthen the national air quality standards for ozone. EPA proposed a range of 60-70 parts per billion (ppb), a much lower level than the current standard of 75 ppb.
“EPA is stepping up to protect Americans from one of the most persistent and widespread pollutants we face. Smog in the air we breathe poses a very serious health threat, especially to children and individuals suffering from asthma and lung disease. It dirties our air, clouds our cities, and drives up our health care costs across the country,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Using the best science to strengthen these standards is a long overdue action that will help millions of Americans breathe easier and live healthier.”
The EPA will be holding a public hearing in several places across the U.S. including Arlington, Virginia on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, Washington Room (located on the Ballroom Level), 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington. The hearing begins at 9:30am and continues all day, into the evening.
Sign up to speak by email to crabtree.tricia@epa.gov or by telephone: (919) 541-5688. You’ll be allotted 5 minutes to speak. You can also sign up to speak here and get talking points for your remarks at SierraClub.org/BigPicture.
If you are interested in joining carpools of Virginians leaving from various points across the Commonwealth, contact Kate Pollard at kate.pollard@sierraclub.org.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:31 am
As I posted earlier: for every step Virginia takes backwards, the federal government is taking two steps forward.
When President Bush regulated smog, he ignored the recommendations of his own EPA scientists, resulting in a lawsuit by the American Lung Association. The cost of implementing better smog controls will be paid many times over by the savings in health costs as well as saving thousands of lives.
January 30th, 2010 at 6:48 am
If this nation really wanted to address the issue of speed, fuel abuse and life safety, they would stop building cars that reach speeds of 120 plus. If we truely wanted the issue addressed, the vehicles could be built to limit speed to 70mph. Not a matter of “freedom” being taken away but it saves money on public safety, medical injuries, car insurance rates and fuel costs nationwide. But we play games instead…
Otherwise we only play politics and lip service to the issue that kils more Americans every year.
January 31st, 2010 at 5:11 pm
“…citing studies that…”
As I recall it was one study and it did not look at specific locations but tried to average all locations, creating a “one size fits all” approach.
In rural areas, increasing the speed limit is feasible, but we should examine each case independently, as has been done here in Virginia.
We could conserve a great deal of fuel if we all drove slow, or just stayed home, but our economy would quickly collapse. If we want to get America back on the road to prosperity, we need to find ways to physically move goods quickly and economically.
With the advent of fuel cell technology, and smart roads, we may soon find it quite ludicrous that we used to travel at a mere 70 mph, as we zip along at speeds in excess of 200 mph and getting the equivalent of 150 mpg. The technology exist right now, but our representatives seem to be fixated on health care rather than building our national infrastructure to support manufacturing and transportation.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:23 am
I don’t really think health care reform can be blamed for our transportation woes.
The highway speed limit is already 65 MPH in most rural areas of Virginia and 70 MPH on one part of I-85. Raising the speed limit won’t solve anything, but it does cause additional problems.
Simply raising the gas tax would fund transportation improvements, encourage conservation, and capture user fees from out-of-state travelers, all without adding any new infrastructure costs for collection (unlike tolls). Of course, that will never happen under Gov. McDonnell and other Republicans in the General Assembly.
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:18 pm
While I know I am unusual, I think I can point out how increasing the speed limit could actually increase fuel economy. First off, I presently possess a truck that is ungoverned, I might be able to claim I finally have a triple digit truck if I am willing to take my engine just a hair over rated RPM.
With all of that, I am not a speed demon truck driver. More often then not I travel well below the posted speed on upgrades and level ground to increase my fuel mileage, but on downhill stretches I try to gain as much speed as possible so that when I get to the bottom of the grade I can coast for as long as possible without putting fuel to the engine. I am highly motivated to get high mileage out of my truck because the higher the fuel mileage, the higher the profit margin.
With a 70 MPH speed limit I can allow my truck to coast further once I get to the bottom of the grade then I could when the speed limit is lower. I love it when I get into states where the speed limit is 75 MPH, I never have to worry about getting a ticket as I am coasting downhill trying to maximize my fuel mileage.
I especially hate it when I get to states (like California) where the speed limit for trucks is ALREADY 55 MPH and state troopers like to sit at the bottom of hills giving speeding tickets to any truck driver who dares to allow gravity to help him/her increase fuel economy.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:44 am
i want the 70 mph speed limit
February 17th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Who is driving below 70mph on the highway now? The speed limit is moot. I drive 65-70 now and get passed by 80% of the traffic.
February 26th, 2010 at 6:13 am
Your zeal is correct, but your number on fatalities is wrong. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Pilot and did the math- the fatalities would be “just” 2-3 more people each year. Having said that, I ended my letter to the Pilot with the sentence, “Let’s hope it’s no one you or I know.” They edited out that line. *sigh*